[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60379-60384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25158]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 100903433-1531-02]
RIN 0648-BA22


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Deep-Sea 
Red Crab; Amendment 3

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule implements measures that were approved in 
Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) developed 
Amendment 3 to bring the FMP into compliance with the annual catch 
limit (ACL) and accountability measure (AM) requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). This rule establishes the mechanisms for specifying an 
ACL and AMs and sets the total allowable landings (TAL) for red crab 
for the 2011-2013 fishing years (FY). NMFS disapproved two proposed 
measures in Amendment 3. This final rule implements additional 
management measures to promote efficiency in the red crab fishery.

DATES: This rule is effective September 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared for Amendment 
3 that describes the proposed action and other considered alternatives, 
and provides a thorough analysis of the impacts of the proposed 
measures and alternatives. Copies of Amendment 3, including the EA and 
the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), are available on 
request from Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery 
Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. These 
documents are also available online at http://www.nefmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9218; fax: (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This final rule implements approved measures in Amendment 3, which 
was partially approved by NMFS on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary). A proposed rule to implement the measures in Amendment 3 
published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2011 (76 FR 39369), with 
public comments accepted through August 5, 2011. Details concerning the 
development of Amendment 3 were contained in the preamble of the 
proposed rule and are not repeated here. A Notice of Availability (NOA) 
for Amendment 3 was published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2011 
(76 FR 36511), with public comments accepted through August 22, 2011.
    Amendment 3 was initiated to bring the Red Crab FMP into compliance 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and establish a framework for an ACL and 
AMs. Red crab is a data-poor stock and, in the absence of better 
scientific information, the SSC recommended setting the acceptable 
biological catch (ABC) equal to the long-term (1974-2008) average 
landings of the directed red crab fishery (3.91 million lb; 1,774 mt). 
The SSC determined that the results from the December 2008 Data Poor 
Stocks Working Group were an underestimate of the maximum sustainable 
yield (MSY) for red crab, but could not determine by how much, so the 
SSC did not recommend an estimate of MSY. As a result, the MSY estimate 
in the FMP was rejected, but a new estimate could not be determined. 
Because the SSC could not determine MSY, a new value for optimum yield 
(OY) could not be developed. The overfishing limit (OFL) is an estimate 
of the catch level above which overfishing is occurring, but based on 
the available information, the SSC determined that an OFL could not be 
estimated for the red crab fishery at this time. The SSC concluded that 
scientific uncertainty is accounted for by using the precautionary 
approach of the status quo, so setting ACL equal to ABC is appropriate. 
The SSC also concluded that the undeterminable level of discards 
associated with the long-term average landings is sustainable, and that 
setting the TAL equal to ACL is also appropriate.

Disapproved Measures

1. Modification to Trap Limit Restrictions

    Changing the trap limit regulations to depth-based trap limits as 
proposed by the Council would be unenforceable and inconsistent with 
the policy of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that the management program be 
based on the Federal capabilities in carrying out enforcement 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act section 2(c)(3)). Depth-based provisions

[[Page 60380]]

are impractical for enforcement because the enforcement agent would 
have to witness the deployment of traps beyond the regulated depth 
range and/or witness the at-sea retrieval of the traps to determine 
compliance.

2. Prohibition on Landing Female Red Crab

    Removing the prohibition on landing female red crabs, contingent 
upon a recommendation from the SSC, would be inconsistent with National 
Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and administratively confusing. 
The SSC determined that there were insufficient data to support 
removing the existing prohibition at this time and, because all of the 
catch recommendations were based on the long-term average landings of 
the male-only directed fishery, the SSC recommended the status quo as a 
sustainable approach. Amendment 3 proposed to remove the prohibition on 
landing female red crab only if the SSC approved a landing limit; 
however, the amendment did not specify how NMFS should implement and 
monitor a mixed-sex fishery. In addition, a framework adjustment would 
be necessary to implement management measures, including the ACL 
framework, for allowing the landing of female red crab regardless of 
the approval of this measure in Amendment 3.

Approved Measures

1. Biological and Management Reference Points

    The biological and management reference points currently in the Red 
Crab FMP are used to determine if overfishing is occurring or if the 
stock is overfished. However, these reference points are not sufficient 
to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the National Standard 1 
(NS1) guidelines. As a result, the Council intended to establish new 
estimates for MSY, OY, OFL, and ABC for red crab. However, MSY, OY, and 
OFL could not be estimated with the available information, and ABC is 
defined in terms of landings instead of total catch (i.e., the red crab 
ABC does not include dead discards).
    The OFL is an estimate of the catch level above which overfishing 
is occurring, but based on the available information, the SSC 
determined that an OFL could not be estimated for the red crab fishery 
at this time.
    ABC is defined under the Magnuson-Stevens Act as ``a level of stock 
or stock complex's annual catch that accounts for the scientific 
uncertainty in the estimate of OFL and any other scientific 
uncertainty, and should be specified based on the ABC control rule.'' 
The NS1 guidelines further state that ``ABC may not exceed OFL,'' and 
that ``the determination of ABC should be based, when possible, on the 
probability that an actual catch equal to a stock's ABC would result in 
overfishing.'' These guidelines also require that the Council's ABC 
control rule be based on scientific advice provided by its SSC and that 
the SSC recommend the ABC to the Council.
    The SSC, at its March 16, 2010, meeting, determined that the 
available information for red crab provided an insufficient basis on 
which to recommend an ABC control rule, and that ``an interim ABC based 
on long-term average landings is safely below an overfishing threshold 
and adequately accounts for scientific uncertainty.'' The SSC reviewed 
information on historical dead discards of red crab in the directed 
trap fishery and in bycatch fisheries at its June 22, 2010, meeting in 
an effort to recommend an ABC that includes both landings and dead 
discards. The SSC determined that there was insufficient information to 
specify dead discards, but that the long-term average landings, and the 
presumed discarding practices associated with those landings, were 
sustainable, and maintained its recommendation of specifying the 
interim red crab ABC in terms of landings only. Based on this approach, 
the long-term average landings for 1974-2008 result in an ABC of 3.91 
million lb (1,775 mt), represented in terms of commercial landings.

2. ACL

    The Magnuson-Stevens Act, under section 303(a)(15), requires that 
any FMP establish a mechanism for specifying ACLs at a level that 
prevents overfishing. The NS1 guidelines further state that the ACL for 
a given stock or stock complex cannot exceed the ABC, that it serves as 
the basis for invoking AMs, and that ACLs in coordination with AMs must 
prevent overfishing. Based on the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act and the NS1 guidelines with respect to ACLs and AMs, Amendment 3 
establishes an ACL for red crab that is equal to the ABC. Amendment 3 
also sets the TAL equal to the ACL for FYs 2011-2013, because the 
management uncertainty in the red crab fishery is minimal and the SSC 
determined that there was insufficient information to specify dead 
discards.

3. Accountability Measures

    The NS1 guidelines describe AMs as management controls aimed at 
preventing the ACL from being exceeded, and to correct or mitigate 
overages of the ACL. Amendment 3 implements both proactive and reactive 
AMs for the red crab fishery. The proactive AM grants the NMFS Regional 
Administrator the authority to close the red crab fishery when the TAL 
is projected to be harvested. The reactive AM is a pound-for-pound 
payback of any overage, should the TAL be exceeded. In any year in 
which the ACL and TAL are not equal, if the ACL is exceeded, the amount 
of that overage not already deducted from the TAL (e.g., higher than 
expected discards, or an unexpected increase in incidental landings by 
vessels with open access red crab permits) will be deducted from the 
subsequent single fishing year's ACL.

4. FYs 2011-2013 Specifications

    The following specifications will be in effect for FYs 2011-2013:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          mt              Million lb
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSY.............................  undetermined......  undetermined.
OFL.............................  undetermined......  undetermined.
OY..............................  undetermined......  undetermined.
ABC.............................  1,775.............  3.91.
ACL.............................  1,775.............  3.91.
TAL.............................  1,775.............  3.91.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. TAL; Eliminate DAS

    This measure replaces the DAS and target TAC management program 
with a TAL. This simplifies the management measures for red crab, 
provides increased flexibility to the red crab fleet, and ensures more 
accurate accounting of the catch limits and monitoring of the catch.

6. Eliminate Trip Limits

    Red crab vessels qualified for a trip limit during the initial 
limited access qualification process. The FMP specified a trip limit of 
75,000 lb (34,019 kg), unless a vessel owner could demonstrate he or 
she landed more than 75,000 lb (34,019 kg) on a trip during the 
qualification period and was granted a trip limit equal to that higher 
level, rounded to the nearest 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). One vessel qualified 
under that provision, and has operated with a trip limit of 125,000 lb 
(56,699 kg) since 2002. Amendment 3 eliminates these trip limits to 
simplify the management measures for red crab and to provide increased 
flexibility to the red crab fleet.

Comments and Responses

    Two comments were received on the proposed rule and the amendment. 
One comment was received on the NOA, from the National Park Service, 
stating no objection to Amendment 3. One comment was received on the 
proposed

[[Page 60381]]

rule from an individual recommending that NMFS cut all quotas, 
including the red crab quota, by 50 percent. Amendment 3 proposed, and 
this final rule implements, a catch level consistent with the best 
available scientific information, as recommended by the SSC.

Classification

    The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, determined that 
Amendment 3 is necessary for the conservation and management of the red 
crab fishery and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), NMFS finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delayed effectiveness provision of the APA because any delay in 
effectiveness is unnecessary. This action implements a TAL that is 
equal to the target TAC that the fishery is currently operating under 
for FY 2011, establishes AMs that would not be implemented unless the 
TAL is exceeded, and removes the DAS program and trip limits for the 
limited access red crab fleet. The purpose of the delay in 
effectiveness is to allow affected parties time to modify their 
behaviors, businesses, or practices to come into compliance with new 
regulations. This rule imposes no additional requirements on the 
affected entities. It retains the current TAL for the red crab fishery, 
and removes the DAS and trip limit restrictions; thus, implementing 
this rule will not affect the day-to-day operations of the fleet In 
fact, removing the DAS and trip limit restrictions will allow the red 
crab fleet to fish more efficiently and provides flexibility to vessel 
owners. The AM to close the directed fishery will not necessarily 
impact the fishery, because the AM will only be implemented if TAL is 
exceeded prior to the end of the FY, which may not occur. Because 
implementing the rule upon publication will not require any change in 
fishery practices, nor will it cause a fishery participant to be in 
violation of a new regulation, delaying the rule's effectiveness for 
thirty days is unnecessary.
    Moreover, waiving the delayed effectiveness of this rule is in the 
public interest. Currently, five vessels divide equally the total 
number of DAS, even though only four vessels are fishing. The fleet had 
anticipated that Amendment 3 would be effective at an earlier date, and 
did not exercise its ability to ``opt out'' the one permit that does 
not fish last fall, which would have reallocated the fleet DAS between 
four vessels instead of five. Thus, each vessel has a lower allocation 
of red crab DAS than they would have had they opted out one permit. In 
addition, one of the vessels is nearing the end of its DAS allocation 
and would have to stop fishing until this rule is implemented. Finally, 
this rule will increase the fleet's flexibility and ability to take the 
entire fishing quota, which is the purpose of the rule. Currently, the 
fleet is half-way through the fishing year, but only 40% through the 
quota. If this rule is not implemented upon publication, the purpose of 
the rule may be undermined.
    Accordingly, the delay in effectiveness is unnecessary and contrary 
to the public's interest, and is hereby waived.
    The Council prepared an EA for Amendment 3. Based on the analysis 
in the EA, the AA concluded that there will be no significant impact on 
the human environment as a result of this rule. A copy of the EA is 
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS, pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA), has prepared a FRFA in support of Amendment 3. The FRFA 
incorporates the IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by 
the public comments in response to the IRFA, NMFS' responses to those 
comments, relevant analyses in the Amendment and its EA, and a summary 
of the analyses completed to support the action implemented through 
this rule. A copy of the analyses done in the Amendment and EA is 
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA was 
published in the proposed rule for this action and is not repeated 
here. A description of why this action was considered, the objectives 
of, and the legal basis for this rule is contained in the preamble to 
the proposed rule and this final rule and is not repeated here.

A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public in Response to 
the IRFA, a Summary of the Agency's Assessment of Such Issues, and a 
Statement of Any Changes Made in the Proposed Rule as a Result of Such 
Comments

    Two comments were received on the proposed rule and the amendment. 
However, neither of these comments were specific to the IRFA or 
economic analysis contained in Amendment 3.

Description and Estimate of Number of Small Entities to Which the Final 
Rule Will Apply

    The Small Business Administration (SBA) considers commercial 
fishing entities (NAICS code 114111) to be small entities if they have 
no more than $4 million in annual sales, while the size standard for 
charter/party operators (part of NAICS cod 487210) is $7 million in 
sales. The participants in the commercial red crab fishery are those 
vessels issued limited access red crab permits. Although some firms own 
more than one vessel, available data make it difficult to reliably 
identify ownership control over more than one vessel. For this 
analysis, the number of permitted vessels is considered to be a maximum 
estimate of the number of small business entities. However, the total 
value of landings in the red crab fishery averaged $3.44 million, so 
all business entities in the harvesting sector can be categorized as 
small businesses for purpose of the RFA, even if the assumption 
overstates the number of business entities. For the reasons above, all 
vessels with limited access permits would be considered small business 
entities that would be affected by the proposed action. As of September 
2011, there were four vessels with limited access red crab permits 
actively operating in the red crab fishery.

Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements

    There are no compliance requirements associated with this final 
rule implementing Amendment 3.
    This final rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other 
Federal rules.

Description of the Steps the Agency Has Taken To Minimize the 
Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities Consistent With the 
Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes

    All of the management measures in Amendment 3 that were approved by 
NMFS provide for increased flexibility and promote efficiency within 
the fishery. This action implements a measure that eliminates the DAS 
requirements, which provides for increased flexibility for vessel 
owners to fish without concern for their DAS clock. Amendment 3 also 
removes the commercial trip limit, which eliminates regulatory discards 
and promotes efficiency. Therefore, by implementing management measures 
that increase flexibility and efficiency and reduce waste, NMFS has 
taken the steps necessary to minimize the impacts of this action on 
small entities consistent with the stated objectives of applicable 
statutes.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group

[[Page 60382]]

of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the 
agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities in 
complying with the rule, and shall designate such publications as 
``small entity compliance guides.'' The agency shall explain the 
actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a rule or 
group of rules. As part of this rulemaking process, a letter to permit 
holders that also serves as small entity compliance guide (the guide) 
was prepared. Copies of this final rule are available from the 
Northeast Regional Office, and the guide, i.e., permit holder letter, 
will be sent to all holders of permits for the red crab fishery. The 
guide and this final rule will be available upon request, and posted on 
the Northeast Regional Office's Web site at http://www.nero.noaa.gov.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 648

    Fisheries, Fishing, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: September 23, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 648 is amended 
as follows:

PART 648--FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 648 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  648.2, the definition for ``Day(s)-at-Sea'' is revised, and 
the definition for ``Red crab trip'' is added, in alphabetical order, 
to read as follows:


Sec.  648.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Day(s)-at-Sea (DAS), with respect to the NE multispecies and 
monkfish fisheries (except as described in Sec.  648.82(k)(1)(iv)), and 
the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, means the 24-hr period of time or any 
part thereof during which a fishing vessel is absent from port to fish 
for, possess, or land, or fishes for, possesses or lands, regulated 
species, monkfish, or scallops.
* * * * *
    Red crab trip, with respect to the Atlantic deep-sea red crab 
fishery, means a trip on which a vessel fishes for, possesses, or 
lands, or intends to fish for, possess, or land red crab in excess of 
the incidental limit, as specified at Sec.  648.263(b)(1).
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  648.4, paragraphs (a)(13)(i)(E)(3), (a)(13)(i)(M), and 
(a)(13)(i) (N) are removed; and paragraphs (a)(13)(i)(A) and (B) are 
revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.4  Vessel permits.

    (a) * * *
    (13) * * *
    (i) Limited access red crab permit --(A) Eligibility. Any vessel of 
the United States that possesses or lands more than the incidental 
amount of red crab, as specified in Sec.  648.263(b), per red crab trip 
must have been issued and carry on board a valid limited access red 
crab permit.
    (B) Application/renewal restrictions. The provisions of paragraph 
(a)(1)(i)(B) of this section apply.
* * * * *


Sec.  648.7  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  648.7, paragraph (b)(2)(iii) is removed.
0
5. In Sec.  648.10, paragraphs (h) introductory text, (h)(4), and 
(h)(8) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.10  VMS and DAS requirements for vessel owners/operators.

* * * * *
    (h) Call-in notification. The owner of a vessel issued a limited 
access monkfish permit who is participating in a DAS program and who is 
not required to provide notification using a VMS, and a scallop vessel 
qualifying for a DAS allocation under the occasional category that has 
not elected to fish under the VMS notification requirements of 
paragraph (e) of this section and is not participating in the Sea 
Scallop Area Access program as specified in Sec.  648.60, and any 
vessel that may be required by the Regional Administrator to use the 
call-in program under paragraph (i) of this section, are subject to the 
following requirements:
* * * * *
    (4) The vessel's confirmation numbers for the current and 
immediately prior NE multispecies or monkfish fishing trip must be 
maintained on board the vessel and provided to an authorized officer 
immediately upon request.
* * * * *
    (8) Any vessel issued a limited access scallop permit and not 
issued an LAGC scallop permit that possesses or lands scallops; any 
vessel issued a limited access scallop and LAGC IFQ scallop permit that 
possesses or lands more than 600 lb (272.2 kg) of scallops; any vessel 
issued a limited access scallop and LAGC NGOM scallop permit that 
possesses or lands more than 200 lb (90.7 kg) of scallops; any vessel 
issued a limited access scallop and LAGC IC scallop permit that 
possesses or lands more than 40 lb (18.1 kg) of scallops; any vessel 
issued a limited access NE multispecies permit subject to the NE 
multispecies DAS program requirements that possesses or lands regulated 
NE multispecies, except as provided in Sec. Sec.  648.10(h)(9)(ii), 
648.17, and 648.89; and any vessel issued a limited access monkfish 
permit subject to the monkfish DAS program and call-in requirement that 
possess or lands monkfish above the incidental catch trip limits 
specified in Sec.  648.94(c) shall be deemed to be in its respective 
DAS program for purposes of counting DAS and will be charged DAS from 
its time of sailing to landing, regardless of whether the vessel's 
owner or authorized representative provides adequate notification as 
required by paragraphs (e) through (h) of this section.
* * * * *

0
6. In Sec.  648.14, paragraphs (t)(2)(iii) and (t)(3)(iv) are added; 
paragraphs (t)(4) through (6) are revised; and paragraph (t)(7) is 
removed to read as follows:


Sec.  648.14  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (t) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Fish for, possess, or land red crab, in excess of the 
incidental limit specified at Sec.  648.263(b)(1), after determination 
that the TAL has been reached and notice of the closure date has been 
made.
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iv) Purchase or otherwise receive for a commercial purpose in 
excess of the incidental limit specified at Sec.  648.263(b)(1), after 
determination that the TAL has been reached and notice of the closure 
date has been made.
    (4) Prohibitions on processing and mutilation. (i) Retain, possess, 
or land red crab claws and legs separate from crab bodies in excess of 
one standard U.S. fish tote, if fishing on a red crab trip with a valid 
Federal limited access red crab permit.
    (ii) Retain, possess, or land any red crab claws and legs separate 
from crab bodies if the vessel has not been issued a valid Federal 
limited access red crab permit or has been issued a valid Federal 
limited access red crab permit, but is not fishing on a dedicated red 
crab trip.
    (iii) Retain, possess, or land more than two claws and eight legs 
per crab if the vessel has been issued a valid Federal red crab 
incidental catch permit, or has been issued a valid Federal limited 
access red crab permit and is not fishing on a dedicated red crab trip.

[[Page 60383]]

    (iv) Possess or land red crabs that have been fully processed at 
sea, i.e., engage in any activity that removes meat from any part of a 
red crab, unless a preponderance of available evidence shows that the 
vessel fished exclusively in state waters and was not issued a valid 
Federal permit.
    (5) Gear requirements. Fail to comply with any gear requirements or 
restrictions specified at Sec.  648.264.
    (6) Presumption. For purposes of this part, the following 
presumption applies: All red crab retained or possessed on a vessel 
issued any permit under Sec.  648.4 are deemed to have been harvested 
in or from the Red Crab Management Unit, unless the preponderance of 
all submitted evidence demonstrates that such red crab were harvested 
by a vessel fishing exclusively outside of the Red Crab Management Unit 
or in state waters.
* * * * *

0
7. Section 648.260 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.260  Specifications.

    (a) Annual review and specifications process. The Council, the Red 
Crab Plan Development Team (PDT), and the Red Crab Advisory Panel shall 
monitor the status of the red crab fishery and resource.
    (1) The Red Crab PDT shall meet at least once annually during the 
intervening years between Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) Reports, described in paragraph (b) of this section, to review 
the status of the stock and the fishery. Based on such review, the PDT 
shall provide a report to the Council on any changes or new information 
about the red crab stock and/or fishery, and it shall recommend whether 
the specifications for the upcoming year(s) need to be modified. At a 
minimum, this review shall include a review of at least the following 
data, if available: commercial catch data; current estimates of fishing 
mortality and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE); discards; stock status; 
recent estimates of recruitment; virtual population analysis results 
and other estimates of stock size; sea sampling, port sampling, and 
survey data or, if sea sampling data are unavailable, length frequency 
information from port sampling and/or surveys; impact of other 
fisheries on the mortality of red crabs; and any other relevant 
information.
    (2) If new and/or additional information becomes available, the Red 
Crab PDT shall consider it during this annual review. Based on this 
review, the Red Crab PDT shall provide guidance to the Red Crab 
Committee and the Council regarding the need to adjust measures in the 
Red Crab FMP to better achieve the FMP's objectives. After considering 
guidance, the Council may submit to NMFS its recommendations for 
changes to management measures, as appropriate, through the 
specifications process described in this section, the framework process 
specified in Sec.  648.261, or through an amendment to the FMP.
    (3) Based on the annual review, described above, and/or the SAFE 
Report described in paragraph (b) of this section, recommendations for 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) from the Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), and any other relevant information, the Red Crab PDT 
shall recommend to the Red Crab Committee and Council the following 
specifications for harvest of red crab: an annual catch limit (ACL) set 
less than or equal to ABC; and total allowable landings (TAL) necessary 
to meet the objectives of the FMP in each red crab fishing year, 
specified for a period of up to 3 fishing years.
    (4) The PDT, after its review of the available information on the 
status of the stock and the fishery, may recommend to the Council any 
measures necessary to assure that the specifications will not be 
exceeded, as well as changes to the appropriate specifications.
    (5) Taking into account the annual review and/or SAFE Report 
described in paragraph (b) of this section, the advice of the SSC, and 
any other relevant information, the Red Crab PDT may also recommend to 
the Red Crab Committee and Council changes to stock status 
determination criteria and associated thresholds based on the best 
scientific information available, including information from peer-
reviewed stock assessments of red crab. These adjustments may be 
included in the Council's specifications for the red crab fishery.
    (6) Council recommendation--(i) The Council shall review the 
recommendations of the Red Crab PDT, Red Crab Committee, and SSC, any 
public comment received thereon, and any other relevant information, 
and make a recommendation to the Regional Administrator on appropriate 
specifications and any measures necessary to assure that the 
specifications will not be exceeded.
    (ii) The Council's recommendation must include supporting 
documentation, as appropriate, concerning the environmental, economic, 
and social impacts of the recommendations. The Regional Administrator 
shall consider the recommendations and publish a rule in the Federal 
Register proposing specifications and associated measures, consistent 
with the Administrative Procedure Act.
    (iii) The Regional Administrator may propose specifications 
different than those recommended by the Council. If the specifications 
published in the Federal Register differ from those recommended by the 
Council, the reasons for any differences must be clearly stated and the 
revised specifications must satisfy the criteria set forth in this 
section, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
    (iv) If the final specifications are not published in the Federal 
Register for the start of the fishing year, the previous year's 
specifications shall remain in effect until superseded by the final 
rule implementing the current year's specifications, to ensure that 
there is no lapse in regulations while new specifications are 
completed.
    (b) SAFE Report. (1) The Red Crab PDT shall prepare a SAFE Report 
at least every 3 yr. Based on the SAFE Report, the Red Crab PDT shall 
develop and present to the Council recommended specifications as 
defined in paragraph (a) of this section for up to 3 fishing years. The 
SAFE Report shall be the primary vehicle for the presentation of all 
updated biological and socio-economic information regarding the red 
crab fishery. The SAFE Report shall provide source data for any 
adjustments to the management measures that may be needed to continue 
to meet the goals and objectives of the FMP.
    (2) In any year in which a SAFE Report is not completed by the Red 
Crab PDT, the annual review process described in paragraph (a) of this 
section shall be used to recommend any necessary adjustments to 
specifications and/or management measures in the FMP.


0
8. Section 648.262 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.262  Accountability measures for red crab limited access 
vessels.

    (a) Closure authority. NMFS shall close the EEZ to fishing for red 
crab in excess of the incidental limit by commercial vessels for the 
remainder of the fishing year if the Regional Administrator determines 
that the TAL has been harvested. Upon notification of the closure, a 
vessel issued a limited access red crab permit may not fish for, catch, 
possess, transport, land, sell, trade, or barter, in excess of 500 lb 
(226.8 kg) of red crab, or its equivalent

[[Page 60384]]

in weight as specified at Sec.  648.263(a)(2)(i) and (ii), per fishing 
trip in or from the Red Crab Management Unit.
    (b) Adjustment for an overage. (1) If NMFS determines that the TAL 
was exceeded in a given fishing year, the exact amount of the landings 
overage will be deducted, as soon as is practicable, from a subsequent 
single fishing year's TAL, through notification consistent with the 
Administrative Procedure Act.
    (2) If NMFS determines that the ACL was exceeded in a given fishing 
year, the exact amount of an overage that was not already deducted from 
the TAL under paragraph (b)(i) of this section will be deducted, as 
soon as is practicable, from a subsequent single fishing year's TAL, 
through notification consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act.


0
9. In Sec.  648.263, paragraph (a)(1) is removed and reserved, and 
paragraphs (a)(5) and (b)(1) are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.263  Red crab possession and landing restrictions.

    (a) * * *
    (5) Mutilation restriction. A vessel may not retain, possess, or 
land red crab claws and legs separate from crab bodies in excess of one 
standard U.S. fish tote per trip when fishing on a dedicated red crab 
trip.
    (b) * * *
    (1) Possession and landing restrictions. A vessel or operator of a 
vessel that has been issued a red crab incidental catch permit, or a 
vessel issued a limited access red crab permit not on a dedicated red 
crab trip, as defined in Sec.  648.2, may catch, possess, transport, 
land, sell, trade, or barter, up to 500 lb (226.8 kg) of red crab, or 
its equivalent in weight as specified at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) 
of this section, per fishing trip in or from the Red Crab Management 
Unit.
* * * * *


0
10. In Sec.  648.264, paragraph (a)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  648.264  Gear requirements/restrictions.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Limited access red crab vessel may not harvest red crab from 
any fishing gear other than red crab traps/pots, marked as specified by 
paragraph (a)(5) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2011-25158 Filed 9-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P